Ryan Hartman facing suspension for abuse of an official.

An incident that went largely unnoticed on Saturday night may land Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman in some serious trouble.

The Wild clashed with the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night and near the very end of that game Hartman was awarded a 10 minute misconduct and effectively tossed from the game by the National Hockey League officials on the ice. The cameras didn't catch the interaction that had led to Hartman being sent to the showers early, but it may end up being one of the most significant moments of that game.

According to Minnesota Wild insider Mike Russo, the NHL's Department of Player Safety is now debating whether or not to assess a mandatory 3 game suspension to Hartman for his actions last night.

Hartman reportedly threw his stick in the direction of one of the NHL's officials at the conclusion of the game, an act of frustration that came after he was on the receiving end of a high stick from Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin that went uncalled.

This is the play that Hartman is believed to have been upset about:

I don't see how Hartman can avoid a suspension here given that the NHL rule regarding abuse of officials is extremely cut and dry on this matter. The specific rule is NHL rule 40.4 and it reads as follows:

Any player who, by his actions, physically demeans an official or physically threatens an official by (but not limited to) throwing a stick or any other piece of equipment or object at or in the general direction of an official, shooting the puck at or in the general direction of an official, spitting at or in the general direction of an official, or who deliberately applies physical force to an official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an official during or immediately following an altercation shall be suspended for not less than three (3) games.

This doesn't look good for Hartman, but we will have to wait and see how the Department of Player Safety will rule on this one.